ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 123 



of silage was 5 per cent in milk and 6 per cent in butter fat. 



Many similar illustrations of the economical value of ensilage can 

 probably be given by those who have fed it to dairy cows, but the repeti- 

 tion of such data will not necessarily strengthen the fact. 



Ensilage can be counted on as an economical feed nearly every year, 

 but the selection of the cheapest grain food for milk production is quite 

 another question. The fluctuation in prices from year to year is such 

 that each season and locality must be considered by itself when it comes 

 to selecting the kind of grain that should be fed to cows in order to make 

 the most milk at the least cost. 1 will only mention one illustration re- 

 garding grain feeding that has come under my personal observation. 



In a certain town there are two farms, one on the north side of the 

 road and the other on the south. Both farms have daily supplied a cream- 

 ery with the milk from twelve cows during the past three years. 



Now the pastures on each farm, in July and August, attain about the 

 same degree of barrenness; the sun shines with equal intensity on both 

 lots, the' rain fails to beat upon either of the pastures or on the cows, 

 and the latter were grieviously tormented with flies. 



While both herds are exposed to the same unpleasant conditions dur- 

 ing the day, there is one important difference in their treatment after 

 they are gathered into the barns at night. Those on the north side of the 

 road enter a gate on the west and go thence across a dry barn yard' to 

 the neatly whitewashed stable, where they find green feed and grain set 

 before them. This feed consists of green corn and 35 cents' worth of corn 

 meal per day. In return for this feed these cows gave, August 1st, 1897, 

 234 pounds of milk, which tested 4 .5 per cent fat, making a total of 10V 2 

 pounds of butter fat. This was worth at that time 14 cents per pound and 

 amounts to $1.47. 



When the cows on the south side farm return at night they are given 

 no green feed or grain; the mudfrom the pond hole in which they have 

 been standing all day is only partially cleaned from, their udders and 

 flanks at milking time, and the dirty switching tail of the cow makes a 

 cloud of dust, a portion of which is sure to get into the milk. 



